I'm confused - we're supposed to apply for passports before the end of this july or something - but its not illegal to sell a horse without one until february - so what about people who buy a horse in between times that doesn't have a passport?  I'm not putting off buying a really cracking horse just because it doesn't have a passport already but surely i'll not be fined if i then apply for one late?

Anybody know?

Cheers
T

As I understand it a passport became compulsory at the end of June this year. But there is an overlap period before they start prosecuting (like their used to be with car tax!). Basically if you buy a horse with no passport you need to crack on and get it done, likewise if you have a horse that doesn't yet have one. It's quite straightforward to get one depending on the horse, many passport issuing authortiites will accept your vaccination card with the sillouette completed by your vet and they will scan this into the passport. If your horse is with a breed society they can issue them, so do the BSJA and various other orgs. It is not cheap though so if you're buying a horse without you should negotiate a reduction to cover the cost. I paid my vet nearly £50 for callout and drawing sillouete and then a further £20 to the BSJA for the passport! Hope this helps :)

personally I am not bothering! :)

Can I ask why?

Sam

Think you'd better get one before your horse becomes ill, the vet will not treat your horse without the passport, they have to register all treatment given to the animal incase it ever reaches the food chain (the whole purpose of the passport in the first place)  Obviously this is not a problem in the UK but in europe is very significant.

Sharon

I think you would struggle to find a vet who wouldn't treat a suffering horse - I know my vet has stated he wouldn't refuse to treat - BUT, in the true spirit of the country I am pretty sure that I would be one who got done for not having passports so I have got mine - as much as it pained me :)

well as my vet pointed out when I asked her advise....nothing is actually the law yet & as no one has written to me in an official capacity to tell me I need a passport for my horses, then wait until they do.  Like she says...she will carry on treating the horses... she couldnt care less if they carry a passport or not!its only certain drugs like bute that are withheld & its not something we use here any way.

Whoops! Managed to post twice???

I thought the law had been passed and passports were required from the end of June - that's what the BSJA told me - they have a huge backlog because everyone left it till the last minute. And seeing that there is no register of people with horses how can everyone be written to 'officially', if folks want to chance it and risk a huge fine that's their choice, but it's not a risk I am willing to take. :) I can't see how it can be avoided in the long run though - if the horse is ever sold or dies and requires disposal a passport will be required, not to mention vet's reporting people who don't have them and people with grudges reporting individuals...

I agree :) I have passports for all my four.

Yikes, I havent even heard about this!  My son has had a horse for the past 4 years.  He is kept at my freinds home with 2 other horses.  He is only a pet and just ridden to the woods.  He had his yearly vaccination by the vet a couple of months ago and they didnt mention anything.  How do I find out about this passport????

I'm nosey rather than horsey LOL, but this looks useful?

Horse Passports

Marina

Contact Defra. You should have applied for one by the end of July....but even so, its not enforceable until February.

Is the horse freezemarked? Also - some passport agencies will take the vaccintation ID as proof of ID - have a look at the Wetherbys site too.

Thanks, have requested a form to fill in from one of the sites.